Wayne Rooney has been assured he will be Manchester United’s main man up front next season, writes David McDonnell in San Francisco.
Louis van Gaal has told the Old Trafford giants' captain he will be deployed as an out-and-out striker when the new season gets under way, after experimenting with him in midfield last term.
With Van Gaal intending to operate from a 4-3-3 formation next season, Rooney will operate as the central striker, flanked by two more attackers.
The acquisition of midfielders Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Scheniderlin has strengthened United and negated the need for England skipper Rooney to fill in there, leaving him free to terrorise defences in his preferred role.
Rooney will relish the chance to be restored to his favoured position from the Premier League opener against Tottenham at Old Trafford on August 8, having been shunted around the pitch throughout his 11-year United career, particularly by Sir Alex Ferguson.
Under Ferguson, Rooney played in wide roles on the left and right, as well as playing as a No.10 and as a deeper-lying midfielder on occasions.
Rooney’s record of 14 goals in all competitions last season was the lowest by a leading United scorer for 33 years, the worst since Frank Stapleton managed just 13 in 1982.
United have moved on strikers Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao this summer, leaving Rooney, Javier Hernandez and rookie James Wilson as the only recognised forwards at Van Gaal’s disposal.
Hernandez has just returned from a season-long loan spell at Real Madrid and is currently recovering from a broken collarbone suffered playing in a Gold Cup game for Mexico.
He is due to join up with United on Saturday for the final leg of this US tour, but could be sold before the transfer deadline as he has just one year left on his contract and there are no plans to offer him an extension.
No comments:
Post a Comment